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SAFE CARS: WHAT MAKES THEM SAFE AND WHAT ARE THE TOP-RATED SAFE CARS ON THE ROAD?


What do you think about when buying a car? Money is usually the number one consideration, but safety falls right in behind. The average American will be in 4 automobile accidents in their lifetime. Knowing that makes a person want to find a car that is not only cost-effective, reliable, but SAFE!

So, what makes a car safe? A lot more goes into answering that question than most people think:

  • Seat belts: adjustable upper belts to adjust for a person’s size; seat belt pretensioners to take the slack out (almost instantly) in a crash; energy management features to let the seat belt adjust during a crash to take the load off certain areas; rear center seat belts for those stuck riding in the middle.

  • Airbags: front and side impact airbags should be used in conjunction with seat belts. Keep kiddos out of the front seat when an airbag can actually cause harm due to the height of a child. Keep 10 inches or more distance between you and the front airbag.

  • Anti-lock brakes: won’t help much if you’re driving too fast or out of control; some anti-locking brake systems come with braking assisted technology that can act quicker than you can.

  • Traction control: mainly found in 4-wheel anti-lock braking systems and are designed to give you better control on the road, optimizing traction.

  • Weight: the more of it the better the outcome usually tends to be in a 2-vehicle crash. This is one instance where heavier is definitely better.

According to a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that looked at data between 2012-2017, the safest vehicles on the road are:

  • Audi Q7 SUV

  • Volkswagen (VLKAF) Tiguan two-wheel-drive SUV

  • Toyota Tacoma Double Cab long bed four-wheel-drive pickup

  • Mazda CX-9 two-wheel-drive SUV

  • Audi A6 all-wheel-drive

  • Jeep Cherokee all-wheel-drive SUV

  • BMW 535i and is

  • BMW 535xi

  • Lexus RX 350 two-wheel-drive SUV

  • Lexus CT 200h

  • Mercedes-Benz M-class SUV (called GLE-class in its current version)

When you’re deciding on your next vehicle, take time to research safety features as well as crash test reports. There are many factors to consider and you need to decide what’s right for you. When you need help assessing a potential new vehicle, let the highly trained and experienced auto mechanics at Pro Am Collision & Mechanical give you a hand. We’re on your side!

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